Mariette, Auguste; Dickerman, Lysander [Hrsg.]: The monuments of Upper Egypt (Boston, 1890)

SOURCES OF HISTORICAL DATA. 35

It is not easy to point out the precise meaning
of the decoration of the tombs of the Ancient
Empire. The defunct is evidently at home. He
fishes, he hunts; his servants bring him the
products of his lands; dancing is held before
him; his wife and children are by his side. But
was it intended to represent the deceased as still
of this world? And was it the object of the
representations on the wall to preserve to us
the remembrance of what he was during his life-
time ? Or is he already in the other world, and,
according to the somewhat naive promises made
to the Egyptians, will he continue in that other
world to lead the same sort of life as he led here ?
We cannot discuss this question now. All we
can say is that the promises of which we have
just spoken are real: the defunct will some day
live again in the plenitude of his faculties; he
will have need of the same objects, he will
occupy himself with the same interests ; again
will his family and servants be by his side. But
never again will he suffer pain, nor be in appre-
hension of death. This seems to be the main
idea which has presided at the decoration of the
. tombs under the Ancient Empire.

But a little later the decoration changes in its